Stanford researchers develop nanophotonic panel that reflects sun's heat out of the atmosphere

While still in the conceptual stage, new material could be the future of highly reflective building envelopes.

March 29, 2013 |

BD+C Staff

It sound like something out of a Sci-Fi movie.

Researchers at Stanford University have developed a nanophotonic material that not only reflects sunlight and prevents heat from being absorbed, but it actually beams the thermal energy at a specific wavelength so that it leaves the earth's atmosphere.

A recent post on the Green Prophet blog details the discovery, which, if developed and implemented on a mass scale, would go along way toward improving the energy efficiency of buildings.

For instance, the Stanford research team, led by Shanhui Fan, professor of electrical engineering, said that by covering just 10% of a roof with the nanophotonic material would mitigate about a third of the building's cooling load, according Green Prophet.

The report, “Spending Through the Roof,” says that apartment building owners pay an average of $3,400 a year to replace heat lost through the roof. In taller buildings, the cost can be more than $20,000 a year. Illustration: Urban Green Council